HAMPTON — Over four years, nearly 100,000 musical tracks have been crafted in a small recording studio tucked away inside the Hampton Teen Center. While the two-room facility hasn't produced a hit song yet, it has put a number of young musicians on a path to promising careers.

"Two of the kids who came through here have turned out to be professional DJs," said Johnny Terrell, a 27-year-old recording engineer who directs the center's recording program. "They are using knowledge they gained here to make a living, which is cool."

In fact, it's exactly what Terrell was hoping for when he and a partner, Jacob Berg, helped build the studio in the summer of 2009.

The two friends grew up in Hampton before heading to Shenandoah University in Winchester to study music. After graduation, they wanted to get the studio started as a way of helping young players in Hampton get a musical head start. "This is something I didn't have when I was coming up," Terrell said.

Even after the studio was outfitted and ready to rock, Terrell ended up staying on as part-time engineer. Although he lives in Virginia Beach and is part owner of Soul Haven Studios there, he makes the trek back to Hampton twice a week to help teens record.

The studio is one of many amenities offered by Hampton's 35,000-square-foot teen center, but recording there is not free. The center charges $40 an hour for sessions run by Terrell. Teens who lack funds can still find ways to capture their jams, however.

"We have some scholarship time available," said Hampton Teen Center Program Manager Allison Nelson. "We don't want to turn anyone down who has a passion and interest in music. We want to support that, nurture that. There are some negative influences out there in the world. We tend not to have those here."

Both Nelson and Terrell say they'd like to see the studio used more often. Teens have priority, but the facility is available to the general public if it's not been reserved.

"If music majors need to create a musical resume, they can come here and create a quality recording," Nelson said. The space can also be used as a rehearsal room for free. Musicians just need to call ahead and reserve the studio.

"We'd love to have youth bands use us as a home base," Nelson said. "We're open to different ideas. We want to see this thing being used five days a week."

Kendale Robinson, a 16-year-old student at Hampton High School, has been taking advantage of the studio. The aspiring rapper estimates he's recorded at least 20 tunes there over the last year. Often, a musical friend would give Robinson a beat or backing track. Robinson would then bring it to the teen center to record his vocal.

"Johnny pushes me," Robinson said, referring to Terrell. "I've been coming in here and working hard to perfect my music. Without him, I don't think I'd be this far."

Learn more

What: The Hampton Teen Center is a recreation facility for children ages 14-18. In addition to the recording studio, the center offers basketball, arts and crafts, a video game room, billiards, pingpong and weight lifting.

Who: While the center serves ages 14-18, the recording studio can be used by the general public when it's not being used by teens. Musicians must call ahead to reserve the space.

Cost: Registration is required to use the center. For Hampton residents, that's $10 a year. For other teens, it's $25 a year. Recording tracks at the studio with supervision from Terrell costs $40 an hour.